Stealing Time

So I don't get a free day off of work this week, it's true. While this is lamentable it's also normal. I have to work. We all do. Life sucks and then you die, right?

Last night I had to do laundry. I was in the throws of a boo-hoo fest and certainly didn't want to be bothered with laundry but, like my job, it had to be done. So I went and did it. And I enjoyed it.

It wasn't a day at the beach in the sun, that's for sure, but it was time for me. It was quite, reflective time where I didn't have to talk to anyone I didn't want to or think about anything that didn't make me feel good. I spent twenty minutes in the Rite Aid next door looking at the thousands of colors of nail polish. I flipped my wash and then I read two entire articles. No, it wasn't a whole magazine, but the articles enlightened me and I almost felt like I stumbled on them serendipitously (if you can consider finding an old O magazine serendipitous).

While I admit fully that the first article made me curious to try MDMA with my husband (under the surveillance of a medical professional, of course!) I certainly won't be running out to get us any E. More useful to me was the second article, which seemed to strike exactly the right chord at exactly the right minute: Here I was spending the evening at the laundromat and getting exactly what I asked for. I needed a pause, some quiet time with myself and I without even trying I was getting it.

At lunch today I tried it again.

I was anxious all morning. No real reason except that I am an emotional sponge and there were a few office characters hovering around and spouting out their drama. Maybe some other things played into it, but whatever - my heart was racing. Across from me, my desk mate was binding ninety books. The constant crrrchhclunk of the binding machine punching holes made my sink crawl.

"I need a zen office," I emailed Husband. "If I ever own my own company I will have one."

I don't have an office where I work, I have an open space, so to be able to go to a designated spot of peace would be a dream on days like this. I imagined what my zen office would be like - full of puffy couches and low lighting. Quiet. It would be so quiet. It would have a door that closed.


I knew I couldn't ask my boss to designate a quiet room in our office, but I could get creative with what I had. So, taking a huge cup of green tea and a clean notepad I made for the back of the suite where I knew of a few unused offices. I found one that I felt sure no one needed and I closed the door. It was quiet.


For fifteen minutes I brain dumped and drank my tea, looking out the big picture window onto the parking lot, only disturbed by some part of a computer that had been left on. The desk was mostly uncluttered. No one interrupted me to tell me about the latest office drama. My heart rate went back to normal and by the time I walked back to my real desk I was very nearly refreshed.

Cccccrrrrrchlunk! Ring! Blah blah blah blah....


Nearly.